Training context
In recent years, more and more professionals have been prescribing time in the forest. In Canada, licensed health professionals have been able to prescribe time in nature for their clients since 2022.
In this training course, discover ecotherapy, its definitions and foundations, its theoretical underpinnings, as well as its contributions to clinical work and the understanding of social problems. Learn about the various ecotherapy practices and the benefits of working with nature.
Through experiential learning, confidently integrate ecotherapy into your office and remote work, and prescribe time in the forest. Develop your own connection with nature. And learn to work in partnership with nature to support your clients, both indoors and outdoors.
This 28 hour training is accredited for continuing education by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec (# RA06214-24) and other professional colleges related to the helping relationship. Welcome to S.W., psychologists, psychotherapists, psychoeducators, nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, sexologists, coaches, counsellors, etc.
This training includes a set of The Wild Wandering Forest Therapy Cards.
Course structure and pedagogical framework
Training is spread over 12 weeks. Each meeting is spaced two weeks apart to allow participants to complete a number of assignments that support learning and the integration of nature-supported practice in ways that suit their respective profession.
Dates:
September 13th 2024, 9am to 11am. Zoom call.
September 20th 2024, 9am to 4pm. In person in Kingston, Ontario.
October 4th 2024, 9am to 11am. Zoom call.
October 18th 2024, 9am to 11am. Zoom call.
November 1st 2024, 9am to 4pm. In person in Kingston, Ontario.
November 15th 2024, 9am to 11am. Zoom call.
Various media are used to transmit learning:
Professional development is supported by an online training platform offering self-paced readings, videos and intervention tools.
2 days of 6 hours face-to-face, experiential learning.
Four group meetings per Zoom, 2 hours each. Including lectures and practical exercises.
One individual meeting with the trainer for professional supervision support.
One weekly meeting with a training partner.
Assignments to be completed and/or handed in, including reading, developing a bond with nature, creating the material needed to accompany people outdoors (consent form adapted to the practice of ecotherapy, informative letter, insurance, etc.).
Training goals
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Understand, define and know the theoretical foundations of nature-supported psychotherapy.
Acquire the necessary professional knowledge surrounding the ethical practice of nature-supported psychotherapy. Including: how to ensure safety (physical and psychological) with regard to the professional obligations specific to our practice (insurance, confidentiality, consent and other legal issues).
Recognize the benefits of nature on physical and mental health.
Assess when, why and how to use nature to support a treatment/intervention plan/therapeutic process.
Assess the appropriateness of prescribing time in nature and know how to effectively prescribe time in nature.
Integrate nature into your professional office and distance practice.
Recognize the importance of the human connection to nature.
Understand how to carry out a nature-supported intervention with your client.
Develop a relationship with nature that enables you to understand, know and anticipate a natural environment in order to acquire a sufficient level of comfort to accompany clients there and work in partnership with that environment.
General and specific themes to the training
Intervention supported by nature in a professional context:
Legal framework
Insurance
Consent
Professional ethics
Ecotherapy and nature-supported intervention
Definitions
Scientifically recognized physical and mental health benefits
How and why this applies to psychology
The contribution of ecopsychology and ecotherapy to clinical work
Ecotherapy as an inclusive practice: a look at the place of First Nations peoples and cultural communities and the history of mainstream culture in relation to nature
Anthropocentric, ecocentric and multicentric perspectives for generating personal and social changes
The professional's relationship with nature
Developing an intimate relationship of trust with nature as a lever for intervention
Therapeutic attitudes and intervention strategies
Integrating nature into the office
Prescribing time in nature
Different types of intervention with nature
Cost and cancellation policy
Cost: $900 Canadian, taxes included
Cancellation policy:
If the course does not take place, you will receive a full refund.
If you have to cancel, your registration can be carried over to another course and the amounts paid will be deducted from the other course.
No refunds will be made for absenteeism or lack of personal commitment.
Only the hours for which you have taken part in the training can be declared as part of your continuing education certificate.